A/V Furniture, Mounts Get Rolled Out At International CES

A/V furniture and mounts will be a popular category at this year’s International CES, with new product introductions from many of the top manufacturers. Among those debuting new models will be Bell’O International, Sanus, OmniMount and VMP.

Bell’O is introducing ultra-thin, flexible HDMI cables as well as new A/V furniture for flat-panel TVs.

The new 5000 series of high-speed HDMI cables feature a connector head that is shorter than the connectors of most HDMI cables, Bell’O said, and a flexible design that allows for easy bending. These features are necessary for use behind mounted ultra-thin flat-panel TVs, where space between the TV and the wall is limited, it noted.

They are TruSpeed-tested to deliver a guaranteed 10.2Gbps bandwidth stream, according to the company, and are capable of supporting all enhanced refresh rates, 1080p, 3D and 4k resolution, and 12-bit color. They are also Ethernet enabled.

The cables will ship in February in 4-foot lengths for $29.99 and 8-foot lengths for $34.99.

Bell’O has also added to its Curved Wood collection with the CW52AM flat-panel A/V system. It has tinted tempered safety-glass shelves that can accommodate most flat-panel TVs up to 56 inches plus at least four A/V components.

The open-architecture design provides plenty of ventilation for convection cooling of components while the integrated CMS Cable Management System hides and manages power cords and interconnect cables, resulting in a clean, unobstructed showcase of the room’s A/V equipment, Bell’O said.

It will be available in February at a $299 suggested retail.

Bell’O will also be launching the TPC2133, its newest addition to the Triple Play collection of A/V furniture. This new model offers three configuration options, and can reportedly be assembled without any tools.

The TPC2133 (April, $399) blends dark espresso finished solid wood legs with a brushed-nickel front frame. The Triple Play system can accommodate most flat-panel TVs up to 60 inches or 125 pounds, Bell’O said, and the three black tempered safety glass shelves hold up to four or more audio/video components.

The rear mounting frame and universal swivel mounting system can be removed so that the system can be used as a three-shelf standalone table, or the swivel mounting system can be removed and hung with the included wall mount bracket.

The open architecture design provides plenty of ventilation, and an integrated CMS cable -management system hides and organizes unsightly wires and interconnect cables, according to the company.

Chief will be showing at its suite in the Wynn new SKUs in its Automated Swing Arm line, new Fusion Pull-Out mounts, additions to its Fit-series hinge mounts, as well as its Raxxess line of rack solutions for custom installers.

Chief also recently introduced its VCMU universal projector mount with a solid steel construction. It’s designed for mounting heavy LCD and CRT projectors. Features include a three-step installation process, integrated cable management, and quick connect/disconnect for convenient lamp and filter access on most projectors.

Included with the mount is a universal HBU bracket compatible with most heavy-duty projectors. Multiple installation options are available: flush mount to ceiling; 0.5- inch threaded rods, and a 1.5-inch NPT extension column.

OmniMount is debuting a number of workstations at the show, including the Work15 and Work20 sit-to-stand workstations. These are part of the ActionMount series and are designed to offer flexibility for users in multi-purpose workspaces.

They feature Ergotron Constant Force technology that’s said to provide simple, light-touch adjustments of the keyboard, mouse and monitor. Users can easily move between sitting and standing positions while working, and the full-motion functionality allows the monitor to move up and out of the way for storage, to utilize more desk space, or to share screen information, OmniMount said.

They are available in two configurations: Work15 supports a single monitor up to 15 pounds and Work20 ($429) supports two side-by-side monitors up to 20 pounds. Installation is done via desk clamp or grommet mounting and cable clips control wires.

An optional work surface accessory is available for $49.95.

OmniMount is also launching three full-motion TV mounts at the show that are part of the ActionMount series.

The Play20, Play20X and Play40 feature the Ergotron Constant Force technology for fluid, omnidirectional TV movement. The products are designed for users who get off the couch to interact with their televisions.

TVs can be raised up to 21 inches for gaming or group viewing or lowered 21 inches for fitness or floor seating. The range of pan allows the mount to be viewable from multiple rooms or seating areas, Omni- Mount said, adding that the mount can be used high over a fireplace and then lowered to achieve the proper viewing angle when in use. CF technology reportedly ensures that the force required for movement always remains minimal.

The Play40 fits TVs 60 inches and larger, panel weight not exceeding 40 pounds, and offers up to 21 inches of vertical and horizontal movement. The Play20 and Play20X fit TVs up to 32 inches and 20 pounds and offers up to 15 inches of vertical and horizontal adjustment. The Play20X also comes with a 9-inch arm extension for greater viewing flexibility. Each mount features post installation leveling, tilt and pan, and cable management.

The Play20, Play20X and Play40 will ship in January, offered at suggested retails of $129, $149 and $299, respectively.

Sanus will be introducing the newly redesigned Component 100-series A/V racks. Offered in various sizes — including a 15U model, 27U model , 36U model , and a 44U model — the new 100-series racks feature removable side and back panels for easier access to components.

A 3U panel located at the back of the racks can be placed on top or bottom of the rack’s rear door for customization in wiring. Vented shelves with backstops, and cooling shelves at the top and bottom of each rack, ensure proper airflow for A/V equipment, Sanus said.

The company will be debuting two new Super Slim wall mounts for flat-panel TVs. The Super Slim mount category offers brackets that allow TVs to be mounted as close to the wall as possible, Sanus said.

The new VLF320 and VMF322 mounts allow TV placement incredibly close to the wall while also offering full-motion capabilities. The VLF320 offers 20 inches of extension for TVs 37 inches to 65 inches. The VMF322 offers 22 inches of extension for TVs 26 inches to 47 inches. Both models feature an integrated cable- management system and will be available in early 2012.

The VMA401 on-wall shelf is engineered to hold components up to 15 pounds. It features integrated cable management. and multiple VMA401 units can be combined to provide a one-piece look, Sanus said.

Also at the show will be three new offerings from the company’s Basic series of furniture. All of the new Basic-series furniture can be assembled without tools, Sanus said. New additions to the line include the BFAV546, which includes a modern two-tone walnut finish and dual pullout media drawers for storage; the BFV157, which features a heavy-gauge steel construction and open design to maximize airflow; and the BFV348, designed with a classic look and feel with a distressed black finish. All will be available this month.

Several consumer electronics accessories will also be on display in the Sanus booth, including new Super Slim HDMI cables models ELM4303, ELM4306 and ELM4308. The cables feature an ultra-flexible design, meant for use for connections behind ultra-thin TVs. All three models are Ethernet enabled and can handle 1080p video resolution and beyond for future-generation displays, Sanus said. All of these models are now shipping.

Sanus is also using the show to announce that its Install Kit app, which was previously available only for the iPad, is now also available for iPhone and iPod Touch. The free app is designed as a mount-installation assistant for both the professional installer and the doit- yourselfer.

Video Mount Products has begun shipping its latest midsize flat-panel wall mount, the FP-MFTB Multi-Just with tilt.

The low-profile mount supports flat panels from 27 inches to 42 inches and up to 100 pounds. It has an adjustable tilt range of -5 degrees to +15 degrees, a vertical height adjustment of one inch, list adjustment to +/-3 degrees, a 2.3-inch wall profile and black powder coat finish.